Steam-engine control



. 657 R: A. WILSON STEAM ENGINE CONTROL I Filed Dec. 26, 1924- PatentedOct. 27, 1 925;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY A. WILSON, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DOBLE STEAM MOTORSCORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STEAM-ENGINE CONTROL.

Application filed December 26, 1924. Serial No. 758,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roy A. lVILsoN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Berkeley, county of Alameda, and State of California, haveinvented a certain new and useful Steam-Engine Control, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to steam engines and particularly to the controlof such engines when used in a steam automobile.

In a steam automobile, it. is frequently impossible to tightly close thethrottle valve in the live steam line leading from the boiler to thesteam engine. When the automobile is left standing, steam may escapeslowly past the throttle valve and enter the engine, causing theautomobile to be slowly propelled.- An object of the present inventionis to provide means, operative up n the application of the brakes of theautomobile, to open a port in the live steam line, so that any steamwhich passes the throttle will be exhausted to the atmosphere, exhaustpipe or other low pressure space. Further, when a steam automobile isfirst started, with a cold engine, considerable steam condenses in thesteam pipes and in the steam chest and there is danger of the condensedwater entering the engine. A further object of my invention, therefore,is to provide means for exhausting the condensed water from the steampipe and the steam chamber, so that this water will not enter the enginecylinders.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which withthe foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description,where I shall outline in full that form of the invention, which I haveselected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming partof the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form ofapparatus embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do'not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as set forth in theclaims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure-1 is aside elevation, partly in section, of a steam engineconnected to the driving axle of an automobile.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1,looking'in the direction of the arrow 2, Figure 1.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for establishingcommunication between the steam pipe leading to the engine and a lowpressure space, which means is operative upon the application of thebrakes to the mechanism which is driven by the engine. Therefore, whenthe brake is applied, communication is established between the lowpressure space and the live steam line,'so that steam or water passingthrough the line, is exhausted directly to the low pressure space. Thislow pressure space may be the atmosphere or it may be an exhaust pipeconnected to a condenser or a water tank.

In the accompanying drawings, the steam engine 3 is arranged to drive ashaft 4, which, in this instance, constitutes the driving axle of theautomobile. Secured to the driving axle is a ground contacting wheel 5to which is secured a brake drum 6. Associated with the drum is a pairof brake shoes 7 which are moved into frictional contact with the drumsby the brake lever 8. The lever 8 is connected withthe brake operatinglever 9 by the brake rod. 12 and a pawl 13 and a ratchet 14 are providedfor holding the brake in applied position.

Steam is supplied to the steam chest of the engine 3 by the live steampipe 15, and, after passing through the engine cylinders, the steam isexhausted through the exhaust pipe 16. Communicating with the steamchest is a chamber 17 having a discharge port therein which is normallyclosed by the spring pressed valve 18. When the valve 18 is opened, freecommunication is established between the steam chest and a low pressurespace. In the present instance, the low pressure space consists of theexhaust pipe 16, which is connected to the discharge slde of the valve18 b the conduit 19. The valve 18 is dispose in a housing 21 and thevalve'stem 22 extends from. the housing. Pivoted to the housing is alever 23 having a finger thereon which is adapted, upon movement of thelever, to contact with and raise the valve stem 22 to unseat the valve18. The lever 23 is connected to the brake rod 12, so that movement ofthe rod in a direction to apply the brake, will move the lever 23 tounseat the valve 18; Fulcrumed on the engine is a lever 25 which isconnected at one end to the brake rod 12 and which is connected at theother end to the lever 23 by" the rod 26. As the brake operating lever 9is pulled backward to apply the brake, the

lever 23 is rocked, unseating the valve 18 and establishin communicationbetween the steam chest an the exhaust pipe. During the time that thebrake is applied, therefore, any steam enterin the steam chestdischarges through the yass conduit 19. When starting the engine rom acold condition, the brake is set, openin the valve 18 and permitting anywater condensation live steam pipe connected to the engine, a

to discharge through the exhaust ipe. By virtue of this device,liability of amage to the engine by water 'of condensation is eliminatedand liability of creeping of the vehicle, due to a leaky throttle valve,is prevented- I claim:

1. The combination with a steam engine, of a shaft arranged to be driventhereby, a live steam pipe connected to the engine, a brake assoclatedwith said shaft and means operative by the application of the brake forestablishin steam pipe an a low pressure space.

2. The combination with'a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driventhereby, a live steam pipe connected to the engine, an exhaust steampipe connected to the engine, a brake assocla-ted with said shaft andmeans operative by the application of the brake for establishing freecommunication between the steam pipe and the exhaust pipe.

3. The combination with a steam engine 4 of a shaft arranged to bedriven thereby, a

communication between the,

valve for permitting the exhaust of steam .from the steam pipe to a lowpressure space a brake associated with said shaft and means operative bythe a plication of the brake for opening said vaFve.

4. The combination with a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driventhereby, a live steam pipe connected to the steam chest of the engine,an exhaust pipe connected to the engine, a brake assoeiated with saidshaft and means operative by the application of the brake forestablishing chest and the exhaust pipe.

5. The combination w1th asteam engine of a shaft arranged to be driventhereb a of the engine, an exhaust pipe connected to communicationbetween the steam live steam pipe connected to the steam c est theengine, a conduit connecting the steam chest with the exhaust pipe, anormally closed valve in said conduit, a brake assoc ated with saidshaft and means operated by the ap lic-ation of the brake for openingsaid va ve. 1

6. The combination with a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driventhereb a live steam pipe connected to the steam c est of the engine,said chest having an exhaust port, a valve normally closing said port, abrake asociated with said shaft and means operated .by the .applicationofthe brake for opening said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y ROYA. WILSON.

